James Baldwin, an influential American writer, died on December 1, 1987 at the age of 63. He was an advocate for civil rights and equal rights, known for his novels, essays, and other works. Mr. Baldwin was born in Harlem on August 2nd, 1924. He dropped out of high school at the age of 14 to become a preacher, and later pursued an education at the City College of New York, though he quickly realized he wanted to be a writer. He left college after a year to write the novel “Go Tell It on the Mountain”, which was published in 1953. Mr. Baldwin went on to write several other novels and non-fiction works, including “Another Country”, “The Fire Next Time”, “No Name in the Street”, and “The Evidence of Things Not Seen”. He was also an active advocate for civil rights, speaking out both in protest and in interviews. Mr. Baldwin is survived by his wife, Gloria Baldwin, his son, A. David Baldwin, and his daughter, Aisha Baldwin. He will be remembered for his lifelong dedication to civil rights and his inspiring works of literature and art.